BMC to repair roads with paver blocks despite ban

Mumbai: At a time when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided not to use paver blocks on city roads, the civic administration seems to be flying in the face of its own diktat by planning to repair minor roads in Malad (P-north ward) using paver blocks. So much so that the standing committee has now ordered an inquiry into what it suspects may be a nexus between civic officials and contractors.

Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta only last year directed civic officials to ban paver blocks on city roads. He asked the road department to stop using paver blocks at junctions and on arterial roads. Notwithstanding, the Rs 17 crore proposal involving surfacing of minor roads in Malad using paver blocks, was tabled for approval in the civic standing committee Wednesday. However, it drew sharp reactions from corporators.

Opposition leader, Congress' Ravi Raja, said, "It seems that civic officials themselves are defying the orders of their chief. The roads made of paver blocks are sub-standard and have caused many deaths in the city. Despite this, the civic administration has decided to repair roads in Malad with paver blocks. It clearly shows that there is a nexus between civic officials and contractors."

BJP corporator Prabhakar Shinde said that even the death of renowned doctor Prakash Vaze in Thane was caused by paver blocks. "Paver blocks render the road surface uneven, making it very risky for people to drive or ride on roads," he said.

Taking note of the corporators' demands, standing committee chairman Ramesh Korgaonkar directed the civic administration to investigate the matter and hold an inquiry against the officials who had tabled the proposal.